Buffing, polishing, or sanding machine



April 19, 1949. K/KERR ET AL BUFFING,- POLISHNG OR SANDING MACHINE Filed 00T.. 18., 1945 ATTMY K. KERRf ET 'AL BUFFING, PQLISHING OR SANDING MACHINE 'April 19, 1949.

Filed oct. 18, .1945

\ 2 'Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

@Zan/@vf Mae SP1/mainz@ Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUFFING, Polrllg: on SANDING Y Kingdon Kerr, Los Angeles, and Malte Swensson, West Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 18, 1945, Serial No. 623,072

1 claim. 1

Our invention relates to a bufng, polishing or sanding machine, and an important obj ect of the invention is to provide such a machine that will replace manual sanding and polishing with substantially production line methods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universally adjustable sanding and polishing mechanism, whereby the sanding and polishing may be conducted in a wide variety of angles.

Our invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention,` which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the foregoing objects.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same with the feeding mechanism omitted.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the .line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 2, the feeding mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 being omitted.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the feeding mechanism and also of associated parts in the aforementioned views.

Fig. 7 is a plan View taken on the line'I-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on 8-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, longitudinal section of-a detail hereafter more fully described.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section takenon theV line Referring more in detail to the` drawings, the reference number ID indicates a base upon which the line the machine `issupported.. Asuitable p1ate..-I;2 l'

is arranged under the base with a tapped opening for receiving a threaded, elevating stud I3. A hollow column I4 is mounted in the base I0 to swing therein about the longitudinal axis of the column and to move in a vertical plane. The stud I3 extends longitudinally through the column. A crank I5 is arranged on the upper end of the stud to manipulate same. A collar 9 is pinned or otherwise suitably fastened on the elevating screw I3. A sleeve I6 fixed in the column I4 is engaged at one end by the collar 9 and at the other end by the crank I5. Thus when the screw I3 .is rotated and thereby caused to move upwardly .in Figs. 3 and 11, the collar 9 lifts the sleeve I6 and the therewith connected column I4. The column slides vertically in the base I0 and carries with it the present machine.

When rotated the other way, the stud I3 is drawn downward by reason of its threaded connection with the tapped plate I2.

Collars II and I8 are clamped upon the column I4 by any suitable arrangement. The means shown in the drawings, and specifically in Fig. 9, comprises a bolt I9 with an enlarged tapering end 20. The end 29 is threaded and screwed into a correspondingly tapped opening ZI in the collar.

Each of the bolts I9 has a tapering cam face 22 which bears against the column I4 when moved in that direction, to clamp the column against movement relative to the collar. Handles 23 are f mounted on the bolts I9 for manipulation thereof.

j tively pivotally connected with the collars II and I8, and are pivotally connected with each other, as indicated at 26. The lower collar I8 is bolted or otherwise i'lxed upon the base I0, whereas the collar I 1, when released by turning its handle 23, is freely slidable upon the 4column I4. To raise and lower the present machine, it is only necessary to loosen thebolt I9 in the collar It. The torque links 24 and 25 prevent turning movement `,ofthe machine during the raising andlowering of same. To turn the machine about the vertical axis of the column I4, the bolts I 9 in both of the collars I 'I and I8 must be released. After theadjustment of the position of the machine, the bolts I9 are again tightened, to hold the machine in its desired operative position for bufng, sanding or polishing.

A horizontal arm 21 mounted on the column I4 carries a tubular cross member 28. Telescoped within the cross member 28 is a cylindrical pivot member 29. Plates 30 and 3l are respectively fastened upon the cross member 28 and upon the pivot member 29. The plate 38 contains a slot 32 with which a bolt 33 in the plate 3| cooperates. By this means the pivot member 29 may be turned about its longitudinal axis and held in adjusted positions by tightening the bolt 33.

The side plate 34 is supported on the pivot member 29 by lugs 35 and 36. Thus when the pivot member 29 is adjusted, the present machine is swung around the longitudinal axis of the pivot member 29. A motor 31 is in turn mounted on the side plate 34, through the intermediary oi a vertical supporting bracket 38.

A side plate 48 is arranged opposite the side 34. These side plates are integrally connected by a preferably stainless steel plate 4I. It is believed clear without fiuther illustration that a hardwood table may be employed to vback the top stretch of the endless belt 69. Rotatably mounted between the side plates are relatively large and small rollers 42 and 43 respectively, vat opposite ends of the frame defined by the side and top plates, 42 is disposed in slots 45 in the side plates for adjustment. The motor 31 drives the large roller 42 through the intermediary of pulley 46 on the motor shaft, a pulley 41 on the roller 42 and a belt 48 that engages the pulleys.

Bolts 49 and 5I hold the lugs 35 and 36 on the frame and extend transversely therethrough. These bolts carry two nuts 58 and 52 on the outer ends thereof, for frame strengthening purposes and to hold the lugs 35 and 36 rmly on plate 34. -v

The bolts 49 and 5I also extend through the member 29 to prevent turning thereof in lugs 35 and 36.

The shaft 53 not only rotatably supports the small roller 43 but also pivotally mounts side plates 54 and 55 upon the frame. A cross bar 56 connects the plates 54 and 55, while a bar 51 connects the side plates 34 and 48. The bar 56 has a tapped, transverse opening through which an adjusting screw 58 is helically turned. A collar 59 on one side of the bar 51 and a cotter pin 68 on the other side of the bar prevents the screw 53 from moving longitudinally through a smooth opening in the bar 51. Thus, by turning the screw 58, the bar 58 and thereby the plates 54 and 55, swing in one direction or another around the shaft 53, depending upon which way the screw is turned. A knob 63 is arranged to manipulate the screw 56. A medium-sized roller V6I is pivotally mounted on the plates 54 and 55 to be swung therewith upward toward, or downward away from, the frame of the machine. A wood block 62 connects the plates 54 and 55 at the end of the machine. Screws 63 hold the wood block and the side plates 54 and 55 together "to cause said plates and the wood block 62 to move as a unit. A work shelf 64 is supported on arms '65 that are in turn held in adjusted positions on the plates 54 and 55 by bolt means 66 that engage in slots 61 on heads 68. An endless belt 69 of either felt or fabric material is arranged to travel around the rollers 42, 43 and 6 I, for buliing, sanding or polishing articles or materials.

Suitable feeding means, such as shown in Fig. 6, may be employed for feeding the work mate- The shaft 44 of the large roller o 4 rial or the articles to be worked upon. Said means comprises an endless belt 18 that travels in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 6, around driven and idler rolls 1I and 12, respectively. A motor 13 drives a belt 14, which in turn drives the roller 1I. The belt 18 is arranged to travel along a suit able flat support or table 15 mounted on a frame 16. Abutments 11 on the belt 18 engage and advance frames 18 of any desired form for holding the work or articles to be sanded, bufed or polished. The frame 18 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 to 8.

Means for pressing the buiiing or polishing belt 69 against the articles or work in the frame 18, includes a pad 19 pivotally depending from links 88 which in turn are pivotally connected with the frame of the machine. A brace member for the links comprises a turnbuckle arrangement BI and a compression spring 82 that urges the turnbuckle outwardly from a shell enclosing said spring by bearing against a head 84 on a screw 85 of the turnbuckle. The brace device has a ball and socket connection 86 with the links 88. The spring 82 urges the pad 19 downwardly, within the endless belt 69, to cause the belt to firmly engage the articles or work being buried, polished or sanded.

In the operation of our machine, articles to be buffed, polished or sanded are placed in the frame 18 and fed under the belt 69, in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The spring 82 depresses the pad 19 and thereby resiliently urges the bumng, polishing or sanding belt against the articles or work. Suitable adjustment may be made in connection with the spring 82 by means of the turnbuckle 8|.

vThe entire machine may be raised or lowered by releasing the screw I9 in the lower collar IS and then by turning the elevating crank I5. The links 24 and 25 will permit movements of the machine withn a vertical plane, within the limits of the combined length of the links. If it is desired to turn the machine about a vertical axis, both collars I1 and I8 are iirst unloosened and are tightened again after the machine is manu ally swung to the desired position.

The belt 69 may be tightened by swinging the plates 54 and 55 downward, carrying the roller 6I with them. This adjustment is effected by turning the screw 58 by means of the knob 63. The bar 51 is the anchor bar, and the bar 56, with the plates 54 and 55, is adjusted relative to the relatively xed bar 51. When removing the belt 69 for replacement or repair, the plates 54 and 55 are swung upwardly, so as to loosen the belt 89. The belt may then be slid off sidewise.

The bolt 33 locks the machine against swinging vabout a horizontal axis. Upon releasing the bolt 33, the machine can be swung about the axis of the pivotal member 29. The bolt 33 may then be tightened to hold the machine in such position. Buried, sanded or polished articles or material may be placed on the shelf when the operation thereon is complete. The swinging adjustments of the machineV about vertical and horizontal axes are relative to the frame 16 for the feeding belt 18.

It is believed clear from the drawings that the rollers 42, 43 and 6I are of diierent diameters. This provides means for sanding, buiiing or polishing concave articlesv ofdiiferent radii, while still obtaining close wiping action with the concave faces of such articles.

While we have illustrated and described what We now regard as the preferred embodiment of our invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications Without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention. We, therefore, do not wish to restrict ourselves to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail ourselves of all modications that may fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a machine of the character described, a base support structure, a column disposed perpendicularly to said structure, means extending axially through the column for moving the latter relatively to said structure, a collar fixed to said structure and releasably engaged With the column, a second collar releasably engaged on the column and spaced from the xed collar, and articulated means connecting the collars against relative rotation, said latter means comprising a 20 pair of pivotally connected links having pivotal connection with said collars.

KINGDON KERR. MALTE SWENSSON.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 348,177 Lotman Aug. 24, 1886 1,192,715 Velmure July 25, 1916 1,244,310 Freeman Oct. 23, 1917 1,288,908 Johnson Dec. 24, 1918 1,350,403 Chase Aug. 24, 1920 1,936,991 Pinkney Nov. 28, 1933 1,958,734 Woodsmall May 15, 1934 1,961,210 Fenton June 5, 1934 1,974,806 Curtis et al Sept. 25, 1934 1,990,668 Philippi Feb. 12, 1935 2,089,808 Ocenasek Aug. 10, 1937 2,106,082 Carlson Jan. 18, 1938 2,115,812 Hardy May 3, 1938 2,189,015 Maurer Feb. 6, 1940 2,416,493 Newton Feb. 25, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS` Number Country Date 35,074 Sweden June 25, 1913 

